Moments later, Oliver returned, leading a middle-aged man. He wore a fine coat, his gray hair combed back neatly. A monocle rested over his right eye, and his steps were calm and measured. Though he seemed old, his presence was sharp, and his clothes were meticulous.

He stopped before Ethan and bent forward in a respectful bow. His voice was clear and humble, the way commoners greeted nobility.

"Lord Blanks," he said, lowering his head, "it is an honor to stand before you."

Ethan gave him a nod. "You must be Aaron, the appraiser.Please take a look at this."

"Yes, My Lord. I will do my work carefully." He straightened himself and adjusted his monocle with practiced ease.

Ethan gestured to the items. "Please, assess them."

Aaron's hands moved with a steady grace as he first reached for the weapons.

His fingers brushed over the blade of a longsword. He tilted it, studying the edges and the runes barely etched into the steel.

"These weapons are fine specimens," Aaron said slowly, his eyes sharp. "They are of far better quality than what any blacksmith in this region could make. Some need repair, but they hold great value."

He then walked toward the massive sword lying apart from the others. The weapon looked worn, its edge chipped and its body scarred. Aaron placed his hand on the hilt and pressed down slightly, testing its weight. His face grew solemn.

"Especially this greatsword. It has suffered great damage, yet even so, it remains a rare treasure. Its quality is high. Restoring it will take effort, but it is worth it."

Ethan looked at the sword for a long moment.

A faint bitter smile touched his lips. It was the Orc King's sword, the very weapon that had nearly crushed him.

Aaron carefully set the sword down again. His fingers were steady, and he gave a respectful glance to Ethan before moving on.

Oliver stepped forward and placed a box on the table. Aaron leaned in, undoing the latch. When the lid opened, a glow filled the air. A gem the size of a palm sat inside, glowing faintly with its own light.

Aaron's eyes widened, and his breath caught. His hand trembled as he reached out, almost afraid to touch it.

"This… a dungeon core of E rank?" His voice carried shock. He turned to Ethan, monocle glinting. "My Lord, did the dungeon run out of mana and collapse into this?"

"Yes," Ethan answered quietly.

Aaron's fingers hovered above the gem as though it were sacred. His eyes gleamed with awe.

Sophia, watching with curiosity, leaned closer. "But it's only E rank. Is it really so rare?"

Aaron shook his head slowly and turned to her. "My Lady, you are mistaken. Most dungeons simply vanish when their energy fades. They do not leave behind a core. Even the weakest core is precious. In Ruthania, such a thing is extremely rare. Only in the great Empire are these found more often."

Sophia's lips parted in surprise.

Ethan rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "What can it be used for?"

Aaron finally lifted the core, holding it carefully in both hands. The glow reflected in his monocle.

"It can be used for many things," he explained, voice steady. "It may be set into a staff or a sword, giving power to unleash devastating magic. More importantly, it can be used to upgrade tamed beasts. A beast of F rank can rise to E, and an E rank beast can advance to D. That alone is priceless."

He looked up, eyes still gleaming. "This single core could be sold for two hundred thousand gold coins."

Ethan's eyes widened, but when he looked at Joel's group, their expressions were calm.

"You already knew," Ethan said slowly.

Irida smiled faintly. "We did not know its uses, but we knew its price."

Ethan gave a small nod. "I see."

Aaron gently placed the core back and moved toward the next item. A pair of boots sat inside another box, their leather faintly glowing with runes.

He adjusted his monocle and pulled out a second lens, sliding it in place over his eye. Slowly, he examined the boots, tilting them under the light.

"Oh… a D rank artifact," Aaron murmured. "These boots increase both agility and stamina. They draw out about one fifth of the user's strength. To a Knight of Advanced stage, they are very useful. But as one grows stronger, their benefit fades."

Ethan listened carefully, nodding.

Kael leaned close to Irida and whispered, "How do these people find out what these artifacts do?"

Irida replied softly, "Most of them are carved with runes. Each rune has a meaning. If you don't know, you can pour mana into it and see how it reacts."

Ethan glanced at the locket hanging from his neck, a gift he had received earlier. He wondered if it too carried hidden runes which he could replicate.

Then he heard Haro's voice.

"I have one of them too."

Haro raised his foot suddenly, showing his own boots. "Mine are E rank. They increase their agility a little."

Aaron gave a small nod of acknowledgment, then moved to the last box.

Inside lay a slender silver flute. Its surface was etched with fine markings. Aaron lifted it carefully, holding it to the light.

"This is a beast-taming flute," he said firmly. "It is used to control or subdue magical beasts. But it cannot work alone. A proper technique must be learned to use it."

"As for the rank…"Aaron paused that gave everyone a hint of tension.

"It's an upgradeable item.."He spoke with a subtle gleam.

"Upgradeable?"Everyone screamed in shock.

"Yes!"Aaron nodded.

"You can use monster cores to upgrade it.."

He lowered the flute gently, placing it back into the box.

His work was done.

Aaron finally bowed again. "My Lord, the total value of these treasures is immense. The appraisal itself costs three hundred gold coins."

Ethan paused as the amount was quite heavy.For him it was quite miniscule now however earning with just appraisal,it was quite a good job isn't it?

For a moment, he realized just how rich mercenaries like Joel's squad must be to pay for such services without hesitation.

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